Prostitution and violence plague Northboro Motel 6

NORTHBORO 
Only a tiny sliver of Route 9 is within Northboro's borders. Contained in that sliver is Motel 6, which many people mistake for being in Westboro or Shrewsbury.

But Northboro police and town officials know all too well the business is within their jurisdiction.

They also know the troubles that lurk behind the motel's doors.

Over the past year, the hotel has been the site of a killing, several prostitution stings and more recently, a serious stabbing. While the owner said his record is solid before the past year, town officials have had enough with the long list of problems, big and small, that have cropped up there.

Prostitutes from Providence and other areas have used the Motel 6 — officially listed at 39 Belmont St. — to set up shop. Other hotel chains in Central Massachusetts have also dealt with this issue.

“It's obvious that these people have selected this region because of the safety we foster out here,” said Aaron H. Hutchins, a Northboro selectman and son of former Police Chief Kenneth Hutchins. “It's kind of ironic that they bring crime to an area where there isn't crime.”

Two Shrewsbury men, both 23, were stabbed at Motel 6 just over a week ago in what police described as a drug deal that went awry. One of the men was stabbed in the neck.

Police said a group of people from Shrewsbury, Clinton and Worcester — including the victims — were at the motel and met up with a group from Providence. Detectives believe the Providence group was involved in prostitution. A gun was also shown by one of the men in the confrontation. Police Chief Mark K. Leahy said he was concerned about the gun because a bullet could easily pass through a motel door or wall, or one of his officers could get shot.

Joseph Webster was allegedly fatally stabbed, suffering more than 10 stab wounds, in an attack in March at the motel.

Lara Cori, also known as Lara Corey, and James Howze, both of Providence, are alleged to have lured Mr. Webster, whom they both knew, to the motel room. Mrs. Cori and Mr. Howze were arraigned on charges of murder and larceny of a vehicle on July 31 in Worcester Superior Court.

But it's not just assaults and murder that have kept Northboro police busy at that address.

Chief Leahy flipped through a stack of incident reports on his desk. From Oct. 23, 2011, to Oct. 21, 2012, police went to the motel almost 250 times, meaning officers were away from patrols elsewhere.

“We go there a lot on our own,” Chief Leahy said. “We go on a near daily basis and check the register to see who is there. But all we get from that is the name. We don't get vehicle information. We don't get addresses on folks. We get a list of names. That isn't always a great help for us.”

The owner of Motel 6, Jay Patel, said illegal activity isn't endorsed, and people don't announce their potentially illegal plans upon arrival.

“There is no identification on somebody's forehead saying they are this or that,” Mr. Patel said. “We work with every police department, and when there is an issue we notify them. Inside the rooms, once someone is inside the closed door, we don't have control over that.”

Mr. Patel said he has bought driver's license scanning equipment and surveillance equipment and keeps meticulous records of people entering the motel — through identification — in order to keep a safe business. He said the Northboro site had only minor incidents until March, and more recently.

“The owner always complies. A better word is, cooperates after the fact,” Chief Leahy said. “They will give us ready access to their video systems, but the owner is also choosing who he rents to. That's the part that is the most troubling for us.”

The killing didn't raise the awareness of issues at the motel for police, as the department's incident log makes clear. Chief Leahy also wasn't surprised about Ms. Cori's alleged involvement in prostitution. She had an escort advertisement on www.backpage.com, a site that lists the Westboro and Northboro area as meeting places for illegal trysts.

“We have a clientele from the Providence area and we have a clientele from the Worcester area that are both using this location as a base of operations related to prostitution,” Chief Leahy said. “It's not just Motel 6. It is a frustrating thing, because at the same time we have families that are being stored there, we have people who have wandered down Route 9 and see the signs for a national chain, and wander in the door, and they may have no idea what's going on next door.”

But according to the state, it has been well over a year since the state used the motel as a shelter for homeless families.

Aaron Gornstein, undersecretary for the state's Department of Housing and Community Development, said there were problems with the management that couldn't be worked out. It involved the reporting of families leaving the place.

The state keeps track of issues at hotels and motels used for housing homeless families, he said.

About 1,750 families statewide are sheltered at hotels and motels, but the state is working to cut that number.

“We just don't think it is the best place for families or children to be,” Mr. Gornstein said. “There are no cooking facilities, sometimes no access to transportation and no play space for children.”

Mr. Patel wants the location to be safe. He claims to be a victim too — a victim of the economy, and people taking advantage of lower room rates. It costs just under $60 for two people to rent a room at Motel 6 for a night.

Mr. Hutchins wants to know if the staff notifies police if or when people of questionable character check in. The town is family friendly, safe and keeping that environment in Northboro is important, he said.

But Mr. Patel has concerns about his legal rights if he refused someone service, or accusations of discrimination. Mr. Patel does keep a “do not rent list.”

In the killing of Mr. Webster, Mr. Patel said, he gave authorities surveillance footage showing the suspects. Since the town doesn't license motels, it is tough to bring Mr. Patel in front of any town agency. Police and town officials continue to monitor the place. Educating the public through media is one way of letting people know about the issues at the motel, the chief said.

Something administratively needs to be done, Mr. Hutchins said. Public outcry as well as chronicling the problems in the public record could help, he said.

“We ought to be able to strongly encourage the Motel 6 establishment to do their part to keep our community safe,” Mr. Hutchins said.